TV Ratings: ABC Crosses Over to Thursday Win

A crossover episode helped "Private Practice" to its best ratings of the season Thursday and led ABC to a healthy win for the night.

ABC averaged a 7.7 rating/12 share in primetime. FOX and CBS tied for second in households at 5.6/9, but FOX had more total viewers (9.2 million to 8.6 million for CBS). NBC, 4.3/7, came in fourth. The CW earned a 2.2/3.

ABC also led among adults 18-49 with a 4.5 rating. FOX took second in the advertisers' favorite demographic with a 3.3. NBC, 2.9, finished third, followed by CBS, 2.2, and The CW, 1.5.

"Bones" put FOX on top at 8 p.m. with a 6.7/11. "Ugly Betty," 5.0/8, grabbed second for ABC. CBS was third with reruns of "The Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother, which beat NBC's "My Name Is Earl," 3.9/6, and "Kath & Kim," 3.1/5. "Smallville" delivered a 2.4/4 for The CW.

"Private Practice," which began a crossover with "Grey's," scored an 8.4/14 -- easily its biggest audience of the season -- at 10 p.m. An "Eleventh Hour" rerun, 5.5/9, on CBS beat out "ER," 4.8/8, on NBC.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.